File drawer follower



Oct. 20, 1942.

T. J. EPPES FILE DRAWER FOLLOWER F il'ed Oct. 30, 1941 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 FILE DRAWER FOLLOWER Thomas J. Eppes, Madison, Fla., assignor of onehalf to Woodrow Gibson, Lee, Fla.

Application October 30, 1941, Serial N0. 417,192

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in followers or follow-up devices for use in filing drawers Or the like and the principal object of the present invention is to provide a follower which is constructed of a ribbon or band-like metal strip whereby there is obtained a strength and rigidity in the device which makes it function satisfactorily while at the same time the device is of light weight and is easily inserted and removed, as desired, and is also easily shifted in the drawer or receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a follower of the type stated which is formed in a novel manner whereby it may be readily adapted to drawers or receptacles of different width, such adaptability being obtained by forming the device in such manner that the end portion may be sprung or stretched outwardly or pressed inwardly, as desired, to fit the device in the re- I ceptacle.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the V invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the present invention, the same being shown in position in a receptacle which is set forth in dotted outline.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing an anti-friction element carried by one of the resilient tongues of the device as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclu- L sive.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will be seen that in each of the embodiably shaped from a length of band or ribbon like metal which may be in a continuous piece, as illustrated.-

In the form or embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the band or single piece of ribbon-like metal is shaped or folded transversely at desired locations to formthe top portion in a single unit or piece It which at each of its ends merges into the obliquely downwardly converging struts or brace portions H. The portion [0 extends the full width of the unit as illustrated.

The bottom portion of this embodiment is in the two end-to-end sections I2 and the adjacent inner ends of these sections merge with the lower converged ends of the struts II, as shown.

At their outer ends the bottom portions l2 merge into the lower ends of the vertical end portions I3, the upper ends of which lie against the outer ends of the top portion Ill and in this particular embodiment are free from attachment thereto. The upper ends of the portions 13 merge into the reversely bent tongues 14 which extend downwardly through a portion of the height of the adjacent portion l3 and yieldably bear against the outer side thereof, as shown. These portions l3 and I4 coact to form a resilient or spring clamp or clip between which is received the top edge of a side wall of the filing receptacle. The height of the unit may be substantially equal to the inside depth of the drawer or receptacle so that the top T comes into the plane of the top edges of the side walls of the receptacle.

In order to facilitate the'shifting of the follower in the drawer or receptacle a suitable antifriction means is provided which is carried upon one of the two co-operating members |3-|4 and which is indicated generally by the character A. This anti-friction means is preferably of the form or construction particularly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 although it is to be understood that any other suitable type of anti-friction means may be made use of.

In the particular form of anti-friction means illustrated there is provided a roller I5 which is mounted vertically in the tongue H1 in an aperture l6 and at the upper and lower ends of this aperture the metal is struck out to form a guide loop or yoke II. A pivot pin I8 is disposed to extend lengthwise of the opening 16 and has its ends rotatably supported in the loops I! and passes through the roller [5 thus supporting the latter for rotation in the opening l6. As will be readily seen the roller is thus supported for contact with a side face of the adjacent side wall of the receptacle. This roller may be located in tl/" tongue I4 or in the end portion l 3 as desired or if found desirable each of these co-operating portions may have a roller or other suitable antifriction means to engage opposite sides of the receptacle wall.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 the single strip of material is shaped to provide the top portion I, which extends the full width of the drawer, the downwardly converging struts II which forms continuations of the ends of the portion I0, and the end-to-end sections I2. However, it will be seen that where the portions Ii! and II join there is formed a short straight section I9. Also at the adjacent inner ends of the parts or sections l2 there are formed the short abutting walls or shoulders 26 which are secured together in any suitable man'- ner as by riveting, welding or the like.

The outer end of each part I2 merges with the vertical end portion I3 which adjacent its top rests against the flattened part I9 and is secured thereto, by welding, riveting or the like.

The upper ends of the portion I3 merge with or lead into a series of fiat loops or folds whereby there is formed a substantially V-shaped spring 2I, the top end of one side of which merges with the top of the portion I3 while the top end of the other side merges with or leads into the integral down-turned short tongue portion I4, the lower end of which yieldably bears against the outer side of the V spring and cooperates with this outer side to form a clip or clasp which receives the top edge of the side wall of the receptacle. These tongues, like the tongue I4, carry an anti-friction element A preferably of the specific type illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 it will be seen that the band of material is folded so that the top portion instead of comprising a single length or stretch of material is made up of a series of short portions II)" which are in end-to-end relation and the bottom portion B is also made up of a series of short sections I2" which are also in end-to-end relation. From each end of each of the sections 5 ii" there extends downwardly and obliquely with respect to the length of the section the strut or bracing portion I I" which merges at its lower end with an end of 'a portion I2". These struts II" which extend from each portion I0" are in convergent relation, as shown. The portions ID are preferably free of connection one with the other and the same freedom of connection exists between the adjacent ends of the portions I2".

The outermost two portions I2" each merges at its outer end with the vertical end portion I3" and this at its upper end merges into the reversely folded resilient tongue I4" which at its lower end yieldably bears against the outer side of the end portion I3" to co-operate therewith for the formation of a clasp adapted to receive the top edge of the side wall of the receptacle. This tongue I4", as in each of the other embodiments, carries an anti-friction means A which is preferably of the specific character shown in Fig. 4.

The upper end of the end portion I 3" is free of connection with the adjacent top T and thus it will be seen that overall width of this embodiment may be slightly increased or decreased to adapt the device to drawers or receptacles of different widths and this applies also to the form or embodiment shown in Fig. 1. However, in the form shown in Fig. 2 the variation in the size of the unit to adapt it to a particular drawer is accomplished through the medium of the V spring 2| which forms a part of the construction of each end portion as will be readily apparent.

What is claimed is:

1. A follower for a filing receptacle having two side walls, comprising a length of a material having a natural resiliency, bent upon itself to form a figure of rectangular form adapted to extend across the width of the receptacle between said side walls, said figure having a terminal portion of the material arranged at each end of the rectangle to coact with an adjacent portion of the material to form a spring clip adapted to releasably engage over an edge of a side wall.

2. A follower for a filing receptacle having two side walls, comprising a single length of spring metal bent upon itself to form a figure of rectangular form adapted to extend across said receptacle between said walls and having two end portions and top and bottom portions, the top and bottom portions merging into interposed oblique bracing portions, and each of said end portions merging at its top into a turned back terminal with which it coacts to form a spring clip'for detachable engagement over a top edge of a side wall.

3. A follower for a filing receptacle having two side walls, comprising an elongated unit of rectangular outline designed to position in said receptacle between the said side walls, having vertical end portions each adapted to position against the inner face of a side wall, and a tongue connected at one end to the top of each end portion upon the outer side thereof and extended down through a part of the height of the portion and yieldingly bearing at its other end against the adjacent portion to form therewith a spring clip for engagement over the top edge of a side wall.

4. A follower for a filing receptacle having two side walls, comprising an elongated unit of rectangular outline formed of a band-like material of resilient character and adapted to be disposed across the receptacle between said walls, said unit having top and bottom horizontal portions and vertical end portions, the said top portion being continued at each end obliquely downwardly and merging with the bottom portion, the bottom portion at each end merging into the adjacent end portion, and a tongue forming an integral terminal extension of each end portion upon the outer side thereof and facilitating coupling said end portions with the adjacent walls.

5. A follower for a filing receptacle having two side walls, comprising an elongated unit of rectangular outline formed of a band-like material of resilient character and adapted to be disposed across the receptacle between said walls, said unit having top and bottom horizontal portions and vertical end portions, the top portion extending the full width of the unit and merging at each end into a reversely and obliquely direct ed strut, the bottom portion comprising two endto-end sections each merging at its inner end with the lower end of a strut, the outer end of each of said sections merging with the lower end of an end portion, and a resilient receptacle wall clamping element at each end of the unit forming a terminal continuation of each end portion 6. A follower as set forth in claim 5, in which the top end of each end portion is free of connection with the adjacent end of the top portion.

7. A follower as set forth in claim 1, with an anti-friction means carried by one of said coacting portions for contact with a side wall interposed between the coacting portions.

8. A follower as set forth in claim 1, with a roller member supported on one of the said coacting portions to turn on a vertical axis and to contact a side wall interposed between the coacting portions.

9. A follower as set forth in claim 2, in which each end portion at its top is free of connection with the adjacent end of the top portion, and an anti-friction means carried by one of the said coacting portions for .contact with a side wall interposed between the coacting portions.

10. A follower as set forth in claim 2, in which the upper end of each end portion is continued into a number of fiat folds forming a springlike construction, the outermost fold terminating in a short tongue with which it coacts to form a resilient clasp adapted to receive the top edge of the adjacent wall.

11. A follower as set forth in claim 2, in which the upper end-of each end portion is continued into a number of flat folds forming a springlike construction, the outermost fold terminating in a short tongue with which it coacts to form a resilient clasp adapted to receive the top edge of the adjacent wall, and an anti-friction means carried by said tongue for engagement with the said adjacent wall.

12. A follower for filing receptacle having two side walls, comprising a rectangular unit formed of band-like resilient material and adapted to extend across the receptacle between said walls,

THOMAS J. EPPES. 

